External Files

Essepage does not provide a file upload feature.

You can create text-based files such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, but you cannot upload or store files such as images and PDFs directly in a project.

To display an image or provide a PDF on a page, upload the file to an external service and enter the generated file URL in your HTML or CSS.

Upload the file to an external service and use its URL in Essepage.

/public Is Not a File Upload Space

When you create a page file in the /public folder, Essepage generates a public URL for that file.

However, /public is not a storage space for uploading files from your device.

For example, creating the following folder does not allow you to upload image files directly into it.

/public/images

Images, PDFs, and other general files must be uploaded to an external file hosting service and connected through their URLs.

Displaying an Image

Upload an image to an external service that supports image uploads, and then copy its image URL.

https://example.com/images/flowers.jpg

In Essepage, enter the copied URL in the src attribute of an <img> element.

<img
    src="https://example.com/images/flowers.jpg"
    alt="A bouquet of colorful flowers"
>

The image appears in the preview.

Linking PDFs and Other Files

PDF files can also be uploaded to an external service and linked through their URLs.

<a
    href="https://example.com/files/company-profile.pdf"
    target="_blank"
    rel="noopener"
>
    View Company Profile
</a>

When a visitor selects the link, the PDF opens in the browser or downloads to their device. The exact behavior may vary depending on the visitor’s browser and the settings of the file hosting service.

Other file types can be linked in the same way.

<a href="https://example.com/files/sample.zip">
    Download Sample Files
</a>

If the file hosting service supports the file type and provides a public URL, you can also use files other than images and PDFs.

Choosing an External Service for File Uploads

Many services allow you to upload files and obtain public URLs.

You can use Amazon S3 or S3-compatible object storage services such as Cloudflare R2, Backblaze B2, and DigitalOcean Spaces.

You can also use Essedrop, a file hosting service dedicated to Essepage that provides a simple way to use images and PDFs.

The type of service is less important than whether it provides a URL that visitors’ browsers can access.

If a file URL can be accessed directly by a visitor’s browser and the service permits its use on external websites, you can use it in Essepage.

Using S3-Compatible Storage

If you have many files or want to manage your storage space and domain directly, you can use Amazon S3 or an S3-compatible object storage service.

Popular services include:

• Amazon S3
• Cloudflare R2
• Backblaze B2
• DigitalOcean Spaces

After creating an account and a bucket, configuring the necessary settings, and uploading a file, you can use a file URL such as the following:

https://files.example.com/images/flowers.jpg

<img
    src="https://files.example.com/images/flowers.jpg"
    alt="A bouquet of colorful flowers"
>

S3-compatible services provide detailed control over storage capacity and file transfer, but they can be more difficult for beginners because they require bucket and public access configuration.

If you simply want to upload a file and use its URL, a general file hosting service may be more convenient.

Using Essedrop

Essedrop is a file hosting service dedicated to Essepage. It was developed to upload files for use in Essepage and provide them through URLs.

The basic workflow is as follows:

1. Drag and drop a file into Essedrop to upload it.
2. Select the generated file URL to copy it.
3. Paste the URL into your Essepage HTML or CSS.
4. Save the page and check that the file appears in the preview.
5. Apply the changes to the published site.

Essedrop is useful when you want to create a URL for a file used in Essepage without complicated configuration.

Essedrop is a separately provided file hosting service, not an upload feature built into Essepage. File uploads and management are performed on Essedrop.

Essedrop currently supports image and PDF files. Check Essedrop for supported file formats and terms of use.

Checking a File URL

Before using a file URL in Essepage, enter it directly in your browser’s address bar and confirm that the file appears.

• The URL starts with https://.
• The file can be accessed without signing in.
• The file itself opens or downloads instead of showing a file-sharing page.
• The service permits the file to be used on external websites.

When a File Is Not Displayed

If an external file does not appear on the page, check the following:

• The file URL is correct.
• The file URL can be opened directly in a browser.
• The file can be accessed without signing in.
• You are using the file’s direct URL rather than a file-sharing page.
• The service permits the file to be used on external websites.
• The file has not been deleted and its URL has not changed.

If you use an S3-compatible service, also check the public access settings of the bucket or file.

Next Steps

Once you understand how to use external files, continue with the following documents:

• Apply CSS to pages and shared designs: CSS
• Insert text files from your project into a page: Including Files
• Add images to Markdown documents: Markdown
• Use shared images and designs across multiple pages: Layouts
• Apply changes to the published site: Publish, Apply, and Apply All